Sporty Bombshells

We are all saying 'Stoolball' Hahaha!

It's been a sporty month for the Bombshells. Last Thursday we had a trip to the Cranleigh Bowls and Petanque Club, organised by one of our members, (thank you Sandy.) We were made so welcome, everything was laid out ready for us, and enough members were able to make it that we could field four teams all playing at once.

After our introductory talk and run through of the rules, play commenced under the watchful eye of our umpire. For those of you who haven't played, it's a gentle sport for all ages and abilities, and is an excellent game with far more subtleties and techniques that ever we demonstrated. There is a lot more yet to learn.... No idea who won but it was great fun! This was our second visit to play Petanque and I am sure we will be back again soon.

June's meeting was held at the BBH Cricket and Stoolball Club grounds on Byfleet's Lane. It was a beautiful evening in a delightful setting so we were able to sit outside the clubhouse where we were welcomed by Sally and Roo.

Sally has evidently done a great deal of research on the game, and kindly provided us with copies of her work to take home, detailing a wealth of interesting facts about Stoolball. There are a couple of (unconfirmed) references to Stoolball going back to the Doomsday Book. But certainly by 1300s, it was known to be played by milkmaids in Sussex, who invented a game consisting of throwing a ball and running between two points, and using their stools as wickets - thus the name. Indeed it is also said to be the origin of cricket, (this being another name for a three-legged milking stool,) rounders and baseball.

Other references show that it was played by all sorts of people, rich and poor, 'trousers and petticoats' all playing together. While it is a game that has been played for hundreds of years it rather fell out of fashion until the First World War. Its return was due to a Major Graham, who served on the Military Tribunal, and his son who was badly wounded. He really needed a game that could be played by men who had lost limbs, a game more gentle than football or cricket, and so he re-introduced the ancient game of Stoolball. It was a success, and now is played literally, all over the world. It doesn't need a super smooth pitch or expensive equipment and can be played by all ages and abilities, and is a friendly game that is played for fun rather than as a means of getting fit, although it is really great for hand eye coordination and cardio.

So on Tuesday, for those of us who were playing, we were split into two teams and given a short resume of the rules, most of which we promptly forgot, which meant that we were very grateful to Roo and Sally for both playing and umpiring. For most of us, this was the first time we had played the game since our schooldays and many of us surprised ourselves. The scores were unimportant, it was the joy that came from a successful throw, hit or catch that was reward enough. Ok, so the 'running' was more soft-focus-across-the-meadow than Usain Bolt, but no-one was worried, it is indeed a friendly game. I am glad to say that while the mosquitoes were a nuisance, they weren't too bad and did not disturb our somewhat idyllic evening with the thwack of leather on willow before we all drifted off into the dusk.

Join us next meeting Tuesday July 30th, 7.30pm for a talk from local author Lisa Bruce. If you aren't a member don't worry just come along, your first meeting is free!